Skilled Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic (WG-10)
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Organization: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Department of Defense / Department of the Navy)
Salary Range: $34.71 - $40.55 per hour
Position Grade: WG-10
The federal government is actively seeking qualified, safety-conscious, and experienced trade professionals to fill critical facility support roles. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), operating under the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy, has announced an open position for an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic (WG-10) in Bethesda, Maryland.
This position plays an essential role in preserving the integrity of advanced biological research and healthcare training infrastructure. Unlike standard commercial residential air conditioning repair, this role centers on specialized, large-scale Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC+R) systems. Mechanics are responsible for engineering precise atmospheric, environmental, and pressurization standards for biological safety laboratories, research suites, and institutional facilities.
About the Agency: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) serves as the nation's federal health sciences university. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, adjacent to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, USUHS is dedicated to educating medical officers, nurses, scientists, and healthcare leaders who support the United States Armed Forces and Public Health Service.
Maintaining the physical infrastructure of USUHS requires world-class technical capabilities. Facilities house complex biomedical laboratories, bio-containment areas, sensitive computer rooms, and sophisticated educational suites. A failure in climate control can disrupt critical research or compromise biosafety. Consequently, the Department of the Navy relies on dedicated trade specialists to keep equipment operational 24/7.
Job Responsibilities & Essential Duties
As an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic at USUHS, you will perform comprehensive diagnostic, installation, overhaul, and preventative maintenance tasks across complex climate control environments. Rather than simply replacing faulty assemblies, mechanics at this level dismantle, troubleshoot, rebuild, and re-balance intricate mechanical and electronic subsystems.
Key duties include:
- Specialized Laboratory Climate Control: Installing, modifying, servicing, and repairing custom HVAC+R equipment calibrated to meet stringent laboratory environmental standards.
- Biohazard Suite Maintenance: Servicing mechanical, electrical, lighting, plumbing, and air handling equipment within high-containment biohazard suites, ensuring exact pressure differentials are constantly maintained to guarantee containment safety.
- Advanced Component Overhaul: Dismantling and rebuilding complex machinery, including centrifugal chillers, refrigerated air dryers, humidifiers, evaporators, industrial compressors, and continuous-duty pumps.
- Controls & Automation: Servicing and calibrating Direct Digital Controls (DDC), pneumatic lines, electronic relays, and mechanical thermostats.
- Ductwork and Piping Modification: Designing, fabricating, installing, and modifying supply/return piping and airflow ductwork to adapt to revised room layouts or updated cleanroom requirements.
- System Balancing & Startup: Testing electrical circuits, balancing airflow, adjusting control loops, and running systematic diagnostic startups on large-scale infrastructure.
Comparison: Commercial HVAC vs. Federal Laboratory HVAC Mechanic
| Feature / Context | Standard Commercial HVAC Technician | Federal Laboratory HVAC Mechanic (USUHS) |
|---|---|---|
| Work Environment | Retail spaces, office buildings, light residential | High-security research facilities, biohazard containment suites |
| System Complexity | Standard split units, package rooftop systems | Industrial chillers, DDCs, precision humidification, differential pressure suites |
| Regulatory Rigor | Local building codes, general OSHA guidelines | Strict federal biosafety standards, DOD facility security guidelines |
| Pay Structure | Variable hourly rate / commission-based sales | Federal Wage System (WG-10: $34.71 - $40.55/hr guaranteed base) |
| Job Security & Benefits | Dependent on private contractor demand | Federal pension (FERS), robust healthcare, matched TSP savings |
Requirements & Qualifications
Eligibility for federal trades and labor positions under the Federal Wage System (FWS) is evaluated through demonstrated skill elements rather than strict educational degree requirements.
Minimum Screen-Out Element
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform the full range of Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic duties without more than normal supervision. Applications failing to demonstrate this baseline level of independent expertise will be rated ineligible.
Mandatory Criteria:
- Security Clearance: Must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a Confidential security clearance.
- Drug Testing: Position is subject to mandatory pre-employment and random drug screening.
- Resume Page Limit: Resumes must be no more than two (2) pages in length. Submissions exceeding two pages or deemed illegible will be rejected automatically.
- OPM Compliance: Background and experience must align with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for Trades and Labor Occupations.
Salary Overview & Federal Compensation
This role offers competitive hourly compensation structured under the Federal Wage System for the Bethesda, MD locality area:
- Pay Grade: WG-10
- Minimum Hourly Rate: $34.71
- Maximum Hourly Rate: $40.55
Trades employees in the federal service receive periodic step increases based on satisfactory performance and length of service. Additional premium pay may apply depending on shift differentials or scheduled overtime.
Comprehensive Benefits Package
Federal employment with the Department of the Navy offers a robust compensation and benefits environment designed to promote long-term career growth and financial well-being:
- Health & Wellness: Choose from a wide selection of health plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, alongside dental and vision coverage (FEDVIP).
- Retirement System: Dual-tier retirement planning through the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with dollar-for-dollar agency matching up to 5%.
- Paid Time Off: Accrual of annual leave for vacations, separate paid sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays per year.
- Life Insurance: Affordable coverage options through Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI).
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Instructions
CRITICAL NOTICE: This vacancy is managed as a public notice flyer. Applications are NOT accepted through the standard online USAJobs application button. Interested applicants must submit their application materials directly via email.
Application Checklist:
- Draft a Targeted Resume: Keep formatting clear, bulleted, and strictly under two pages. Detail your specific experience with lab HVAC systems, bio-suite pressure controls, DDCs, and chillers.
- Include Crucial Details: Ensure your resume clearly lists employer names, precise start/end dates (Month/Year), average hours worked per week, and federal pay series/grade if applicable.
- Assemble Supporting Documents:
- Official or unofficial transcripts (if substituting education or claiming credentials).
- Copies of relevant professional HVAC certifications, trade licenses, or EPA Universal cards.
- Military discharge paperwork (DD-214 Member Copy 4) or VA Disability letters if claiming Veterans' Preference.
- Submit via Email: Send your complete application package directly to Miguel Belen at
[email protected]before the closing date.
Application Tips for Success
- Respect the Page Limit: The 2-page ceiling is strictly enforced by HR. Condense older, non-relevant work history to ensure your specialized mechanical skills fit within two pages.
- Highlight Screen-Out Keywords: Directly reflect your capacity to work independently. Describe scenarios where you solved complex HVAC breakdowns without relying on step-by-step guidance.
- Detail Bio-Safety & Control Experience: If you have worked in cleanrooms, pharmaceutical plants, or medical research environments, emphasize your knowledge of pressure balancing and cleanroom environmental standards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I submit my resume using USAJobs?
No. This announcement is a flyer notice. You must email your resume package directly to the HR representative listed in the announcement ([email protected]).
Q: What happens if my resume is 3 pages long?
Your resume will be marked ineligible. The Department of the Navy enforces a strict 2-page limit for this specific public notice announcement.
Q: Is telework available for this role?
No. Due to the physical nature of installing, maintaining, and repairing physical plant equipment, telework is not available for this position.
Q: What geographic area does this position support?
The position is physically located at the USUHS campus in Bethesda, Maryland.
For experienced HVAC mechanics looking for stability, excellent benefits, and meaningful work supporting national defense health sciences, this WG-10 position at USUHS offers an extraordinary career path. Ensure your resume highlights your technical independence and specialized climate control experience, and submit your application package before the deadline.
Why This Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Job Matters
Step into a critical technical role maintaining advanced climate systems for defense health research at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.
Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Job Overview
The Department of the Navy is recruiting Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanics (WG-10) to manage, maintain, and repair complex HVAC+R environments at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. This role is vital to preserving strict atmospheric and pressural controls across specialized research facilities and biohazard laboratory suites. Candidates must demonstrate high-level technical expertise in direct digital controls (DDCs), pneumatic systems, chillers, and precision climate regulation.
Requirements for Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic
- Ability to perform the duties of an Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic without more than normal supervision (Screen-out element).
- Submission of a clear, legible resume strictly capped at two pages maximum.
- Must pass a pre-employment background investigation for a Confidential security clearance.
- Subject to mandatory pre-employment and random drug testing.
- Must comply with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Trades and Labor Qualifications standards.
Preferred Qualifications for Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic
- Proven background in maintaining specialized environmental systems for medical, bio-containment, or scientific research laboratories.
- Deep familiarity with Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems, pneumatic control loops, and precision air-balancing techniques.
- Hands-on expertise in overhauling large-scale centrifugal chillers, industrial compressors, and complex air handlers.
- Capability to read and interpret mechanical blueprints, electrical schematics, and pneumatic flow diagrams.
Federal Benefits & Perks
- ✓Competitive hourly pay rate under the Federal Wage System (WG-10).
- ✓Comprehensive federal health, dental, and vision insurance options.
- ✓Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with agency matching contributions.
- ✓Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension coverage.
- ✓Generous annual leave, sick leave, and paid federal holidays.
- ✓Extensive professional development and safety training programs.
💡 How to Apply Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Job & Insider Tips
Application Steps for Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic Job
- Prepare a comprehensive, highly targeted resume that is strictly limited to 2 pages or fewer.
- Gather supporting documentation, including official/unofficial transcripts, trade certifications, licenses, or military DD-214 forms if applicable.
- Address all key qualifications and screen-out elements clearly within your work history.
- Submit your complete application package directly to the designated HR point of contact via email prior to the closing deadline.
💡 General Tips
- Do not submit your resume through the standard USAJobs portal button; this announcement requires direct submission via email.
- Ensure your resume explicitly details experience working on commercial, industrial, or lab-scale HVAC+R equipment.
- Keep your resume formatting concise—resumes exceeding the two-page limit will be disqualified immediately.
- Quantify your experience by listing hours worked per week, employer names, and specific pay grades or equivalent civilian titles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pay scale for this HVAC Mechanic position?
This position is rated at the WG-10 level with an hourly wage ranging from $34.71 to $40.55 per hour.
Where is the job located?
The primary work duty location is at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.
How do I apply for this position?
This is a public notice announcement. Applicants must email their 2-page resume and required documents directly to the listed HR representative, Miguel Belen.
Is there a strict page limit on resumes?
Yes. Resumes must be two pages or less. Any application containing a resume longer than two pages or deemed unreadable will not be evaluated.
Does this role require a security clearance or drug test?
Yes. The selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a Confidential security clearance and undergo mandatory drug testing.